snobb
New Millennium, partially the second decade, in creative jazz is very much a drummer's time. For long time drummers were known mostly as collaborators no leaders with few exemptions. During last decade or more we experienced a peak of drummers as leaders on a world jazz scenes(as rule - drummers-composers). Many of them are responsible for most interesting jazz coming from last two decades. Whit Dickey is one of them.
Seasoned New-York-based drummer Whit Dickey was better known as Matthew Shipp and David S. Ware bands member. In 1998 he started leader's career. "Vessel In Orbit" is his return to AUM Fidelity, the label, responsible for his debut as leader, and his first new band almost for a decade. Dickey trio with his old collaborator pianist Matthew and violist Mat Maneri plays complex music, demonstrating almost intuitive interplay between members.
The music is dark, free, not too loud and well organized. Compositions are credited to all trio members, still central album's part sounds more like improvisation. There are some chaos, and some beauty in album's music, and looking from six years(and some more excellent Dickey albums, released later)distance, one can see where Dickey's glorious period started. Very soon the drummer will concentrate on more composed music and will release several albums(with different small bands)which will push him on the forefront of todays creative jazz scene.